CHICAGO -- There are now two teams over .500 in the American League Central.
One of those two is the Chicago White Sox, following a 6-2 victory over the Royals at Rate Field Thursday to complete a three-game sweep. At 22-21, they moved over .500 through 40-plus games for the first time since they were 81-80 on Oct. 4, 2022.
Yes, this is the same team with a 67.5 over/under 2026 wins total at many places that make such odds. It’s the same organization coming off three straight seasons of 100-plus losses, including 102 in ‘25 and 121 in ‘24. Heck, it’s a team now standing at 5-2 against the Royals (19-25) in ‘26 after posting a combined 4-22 mark against them in 2024-25.
Their overall win streak extended to five, as the White Sox now prepare for a highly charged weekend series at home against the Cubs. But maybe it’s time to listen to what manager Will Venable has said since April, when things weren’t going quite as great for his squad.
That sentiment is a simple one: The White Sox are good, and they believe they are good as winning results would dictate.
"It’s so fun. Everyone is cheering for each other,” said White Sox starter Anthony Kay, who improved to 3-1 overall with Thursday’s victory. “Everyone is pulling in the right direction. You see the energy. It’s going to be really fun. We are clicking on all cylinders and it’s only going to get better.”
“There's no lack of energy,” said left fielder Randal Grichuk, who drove in four runs in the series finale. “It's been a fun and exciting team, pregame, postgame, in the dugout. It's a lot of things going on that keeps things light. They prepare hard, they play the game hard and they like to have fun. It's been fun."
Kansas City scored one run in the top of the first against Kay, but Grichuk quickly erased that advantage with a two-out blast on a 2-2 pitch off Kris Bubic (3-2) in the bottom half. Grichuk added a two-run single in the third, which is all the White Sox would need.
Grichuk joined the team on May 4 as a free agent after being released by the Yankees, and the 34-year-old has already made an impact. That’s how things have gone so far for the White Sox during the ‘26 season.
"Just incredible, he can really do damage against lefties,” said Venable of Grichuk. “We saw the homer against [Eduard] Bazardo, a righty. Just puts himself in a really good position, it’s nice to be able to go find that midseason here and he’s obviously made a huge impact.”
“I've hit well against lefties and that's something I really haven't wavered from,” Grichuk said. “The results might not be there, but the at-bats and the barrels are still there. I go in there with confidence and know that's what I'm here for and hopefully the results will take care of itself."
Kay set a career high with six-plus innings on the mound, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out four and walking two. Pitching coach Zach Bove gave Kay three hitters as he entered the sixth, but he got through two outs and a Starling Marte single on six pitches.
Nobody stirred in the dugout after Marte, so he retired Isaac Collins to end the frame. Kyle Isbel’s leadoff triple in the seventh ended Kay’s successful night.
"Obviously I had a couple of tough [starts], but you still have to have some confidence in yourself. It’s a long season,” Kay said. “Adjustments to be made. And thankfully we’ve made the right ones and we’ve had some success.”
Since starting the season at 6-13, the White Sox have ripped off a 16-8 run. Business now picks up as the Cubs, who sit at 28-16 and hold a 2 1/2 game lead in the National League Central, visit Venable’s crew, which is tied in the loss column with the Guardians (24-21) and is one game out of first. The White Sox also hold a one-game lead as the AL’s second Wild Card.
Discussing things such as the loss column, Wild Cards and even standings are a bit ridiculous on May 14, but the White Sox have earned that early right. With a strong showing against their crosstown rivals, in front of sellout crowds on Friday and Saturday, that belief in winning should only go stronger.
“One hundred percent,” Grichuk said. “They're a really good team playing good baseball, so a series win would just be even more icing on the cake with the confidence and the energy."
“Hopefully this stadium is rocking with a lot of White Sox fans,” Kay said. “It will be a special weekend for sure.”